Too chicken to join gym, someone slap me!

[1amtheonewhoKnocks]

Ok, been running for a little while and need to do something else. I live 5 minutes drive from work and have access there to a small but free gym and I am too chicken to go! It's not state of the at but has usual machines there so was thinking of going around 6am on my non running days for bit of rowing, bike, cross trainer etc for half an hour.

As it's also used by students in term time and colleagues I am so paranoid about being laughed at, talked about etc to the event I'm thinking of paying to go to a gym a few miles away instead.

It just doesn't make sense, why am I so self conscious?? Someone please slap me and tell me to woman up!

ok, just tell yourself you'll go once and if it's not for you, you don't have to go again.

You know once you get there that if there is anyone else there at that time, they'll be so busy concentrating on their own workout, they'll be oblivious to who else is around and what they are up to. As will you, once you get going.

I have an app (goaltracker) that I can set any type of goal into, eg go to the gym 3 times a week. It's satisfying ticking off a day on the calendar of the app to say I achieved it. A little motivational tool. There are lots of other apps to log exercise which can make it more fun (Tri-hard is one for triathlon activities, but you don't have to do a triathlon to use it, just log runs and cycling, and watch the hours build up)

Anything to get over the initial walking through the door of the gym feeling.

You should go, and keep going until it becomes natural. Why waste money because you're a bit wary of what others might think... Why travel further? It won't help your self-esteem in the long run and let's not forget, there's thousands of exercises you can do at home without any equipment at all, you can bring those ideas to that gym and look like a hero doing them whilst everyone else is relying on the kit available.

My son is the same when it comes to drama at school, he often shys away from certain roles that mean he's centre of attention. It's normal to feel like you're in the spotlight, but this is for you, and you're fitness comes first, no one else's opinion or view on how you train or how you look when you train is your concern...

You're right: woman up! And enjoy it!

I promise you - nobody cares about other people at the gym (unless they're doing something rude, like hogging a bench.)

If you're running, you will benefit from adding some resistance training for your upper body strength. Don't be afraid to try it!

And don't drive if it's only 5 minutes! Think of it as a warm up.